4th Class Part B (4B) · SOPEEC

4B exam breakdown: questions per topic

4B has 12 syllabus sections and 100 multiple-choice questions. Here is how the questions are commonly reported to split, grouped so you can see where the marks sit, with a study-hours split you can set to your own schedule.

100multiple-choice questions
3 hrtime limit
65%pass mark, this paper alone
~1.8 minper question

Format: Official from SOPEEC 4th Class exam information (syllabus and format). PDF sources: SOPEEC syllabus (PDF), ABSA AB-54 (PDF). SOPEEC says 3 hours applies “in most jurisdictions”.

Where the 4B marks sit

Refrigeration, HVAC and heating28%
Boiler safety devices and operation24%
Lubrication, pumps, compressors and prime movers23%
Maintenance and water treatment20%
Building systems and plant types5%

Official Section codes and titles (SOPEEC syllabus / ABSA AB-54)
Unofficial Question counts (commonly reported, not published by SOPEEC or ABSA)

4B questions by syllabus section, with suggested study hours for 60 total hours of topic study. Counts are unofficial.
Section Official	Qs Unofficial	Share	Study hrs
Refrigeration, HVAC and heating28 questions · 28%			17 h
B9Refrigeration Refrigerants, compression and absorption systems, operating and safety controls. Free 4B questions →	14	14%	8.5
B10Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning Air conditioning and humidification, air movement, ventilation and filters, ducts and coils. Free 4B questions →	7	7%	4
B11Heating and Cooling Systems Steam and hot-water heating, central and unitary HVAC, heat recovery, HVAC control strategies. Free 4B questions →	7	7%	4
Boiler safety devices and operation24 questions · 24%			14.5 h
B3Boiler Safety Devices Safety valves, combustion safety controls, feedwater control, required boiler fittings. Free 4B questions →	10	10%	6
B4Plant (Boiler) Operations Starting auxiliaries and boilers, operating checks, shutdown and lay-up, what to log. Free 4B questions →	14	14%	8.5
Lubrication, pumps, compressors and prime movers23 questions · 23%			14 h
B1Lubrication Why and how lubrication works, bearing care and lube systems. Free 4B questions →	6	6%	3.5
B2Pumps and Compressors Pump and compressor types, how they run, start-up, shutdown and maintenance. Free 4B questions →	10	10%	6
B7Prime Movers and Engines Steam turbines, condensers and cooling towers, gas turbines, internal combustion engines. Free 4B questions →	7	7%	4
Maintenance and water treatment20 questions · 20%			12 h
B5Power Plant / Heating Plant Maintenance Hand tools, fasteners, rigging and working at height, boiler service, prep for inspection and cleaning. Free 4B questions →	10	10%	6
B6Water Treatment External and internal boiler water treatment, condensate, cooling tower, chilled and heating water. Free 4B questions →	10	10%	6
Building systems and plant types5 questions · 5%			3 h
B8Auxiliary Building Systems Lighting, building water supply and sanitary drainage. Free 4B questions →	3	3%	2
B12Types of Plants Steam-related processes in common plants that employ power engineers. Free 4B questions →	2	2%	1
Total	100	100%	60

About these numbers. SOPEEC and ABSA publish the 12 4B sections but not how many questions come from each. The counts above are a commonly shared breakdown that circulates in candidate groups and on third-party prep sites. The topics line up one-to-one with the official syllabus and the counts add to 100, but treat them as a weighting guide. Your sitting may differ, and SOPEEC is the authority.

What this means for your study time

Boiler plant operations (B4) and refrigeration (B9) are the two biggest single sections at 14 questions each. Four more sections carry 10: pumps and compressors, boiler safety devices, maintenance, and water treatment. Those six sections add up to 68 of the 100 questions.

4B is the applied paper, so many questions turn on sequence: what you check before start-up, what you watch while running, and how you shut down and lay up. Learn the operating order, not just the parts list. Auxiliary building systems (3) and types of plants (2) are small, so a light read covers them.

A topic-weighted 4B study plan

The hours column above splits your topic-study time by each section’s share of the paper. Here is the order we suggest working through it:

Start with boiler safety devices and operations. B3 then B4. Together they are about a quarter of the paper.
Then refrigeration. B9 is 14 questions on its own. Follow it with HVAC (B10) and heating and cooling systems (B11) while the concepts are fresh.
Then rotating equipment and water. Pumps and compressors, lubrication, prime movers, water treatment, maintenance.
Finish with the short sections. Auxiliary building systems and types of plants.
Leave time for full mocks. Each one is 3 hours plus review. Sit at least one under exam conditions, then go back to your weakest sections only.

Want it laid out week by week? The free study planner maps your weeks to the 4B units. Not sure 4th Class is the right start? Try the class chooser.

Practise by section

The SteamTicket 4B bank is mapped to all 12 4B sections, and the SMART Quiz moves the sections you score lowest on to the front of each session. It is deterministic, not AI: it ranks from your own results. Start with the free 20-question 4B sample (no signup) to see the style and pace. The full bank is a one-time purchase with lifetime access, no subscription — see pricing.

More on 4B: what the paper covers · how to study for it · the full exam format · 4A breakdown

Common questions

Does SOPEEC or ABSA publish how many questions are on each 4B topic?

No. The official SOPEEC 4th Class syllabus and ABSA’s AB-54 list the 12 4B sections and their objectives, but neither publishes a question count per section (checked 2026-10-26). The counts on this page are a commonly shared breakdown that circulates among candidates and prep sites. Use them as a guide to weighting, not a guarantee of what your sitting will contain.

How many questions are on the 4B exam, and how long do I get?

100 multiple-choice questions in 3 hours. SOPEEC notes that 3 hours for 100 questions works out to about 1.8 minutes per question. That format comes from the official SOPEEC and ABSA documents. SOPEEC says 4th Class papers are 3 hours “in most jurisdictions”, so confirm with your own regulator.

What is the pass mark for 4B?

You need at least 65% of the total marks on each paper. 4A and 4B are marked separately, so a strong 4A does not make up for a weak 4B.

Is the topic list the same in every province?

The 4th Class syllabus is the national SOPEEC syllabus. ABSA’s AB-54 says its subjects are identical to the SOPEEC syllabus. Where you write changes the application process and the Act and regulations you study for section A3, not the topic list.

Should I write 4A before 4B?

The syllabus does not set an order, and each paper is its own sitting with its own 65% pass mark. 4A covers the boiler and science fundamentals that 4B builds on, so many people start there. Check your jurisdiction’s rules on order and timing.

How were the study hours worked out?

Simple proportion: your total topic-study hours multiplied by each section’s share of the 100 questions, rounded to the nearest half hour. It is a starting split, not a rule. Move hours toward the sections you score lowest on in practice, and add separate time for full timed mocks.

Is SteamTicket an ABSA-accepted course?

No. SteamTicket is an independent practice question bank, not a course, and it does not make you eligible to write. For Alberta eligibility rules see ABSA, or our Alberta 4th Class eligibility guide.

Sources

Official SOPEEC, Fourth Class exam information (start here): Part A and Part B are each 100 multiple-choice questions; 65% per paper; 3 hours in most jurisdictions. The syllabus is linked from that page.
Official SOPEEC, Reference Syllabus, Fourth Class (PDF) (Nov 2022 edition, effective Nov 1, 2017): 12 Part A and 12 Part B sections; two papers of 100 multiple-choice questions, 3 hours each; 65% per paper.
Official ABSA, AB-54 Fourth Class syllabus (PDF) (Edition 2, Revision 2, 2022-11): same sections, subjects identical to SOPEEC.
Official SOPEEC, 4A sample questions (PDF): 100 questions in 3 hours, about 1.8 minutes per question.
Unofficial Per-section question counts: commonly shared breakdown (circulating in candidate groups and on third-party prep sites). Not published by SOPEEC or ABSA. Checked 2026-10-26.

SteamTicket is an independent practice tool, not a course, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by SOPEEC, ABSA, Technical Safety BC, TSSA, or PanGlobal. Exam details are general information from public SOPEEC and ABSA documents — confirm current requirements with your provincial regulator.

See where you stand on 4B

20 free questions, no signup. You get a score and a read on which sections to study next.

Start the free 4B sample See the 4B course